Home >> Home & Garden >> Planting Nectarine

Planting Nectarine

The Nectarine, though differing somewhat inappearance and flavor, is actually of the samespecies as the Peach, Prunus persica, and hasbeen known in the Old World for more than2000 years. It originated as a natural mutationof the Peach and occasionally in peach orchardsa tree will develop which produces nectarines.The Nectarine is one of the most interestingphenomena in horticulture. The trees may growfrom peach pits and peach trees may grow fromnectarine pits. Peach trees produce nectarinefruits by bud mutation and nectarine treesproduce peach fruits by the same mutations.Also, both the peach and nectarine trees canproduce individual fruits that are part Nectarineand part Peach.

Culture and Adaptation

The Nectarine is grown wherever the Peach

is grown and the culture is the same for both.Trees and blossoms of the Nectarine are indis-tinguishable from those of the Peach. Allcultural procedures recommended for the Peachapply to the Nectarine.

Varieties

Modern varieties of nectarines are the resultof controlled breeding and the fruits arc farsuperior to those that appeared early in thehistory of the industry. All major varieties areself-fruitful and so do not require cross-pollination. The breeding program at the Va.Agricultural Experiment Station has produced`Lexington', ‘Redchier, 'Cavalier', 'Pocahontas',`Cherokee and `Redbud'. The N.J. AgriculturalExperiment Station produced a series of white-fleshed varieties called `Nectarese', 'Neetaheart',`Neetacrest' and `Nectalate' and, more recently,a yellow-fleshed series called the `Neetaree.Private breeders in Calif. have developedexcellent varieties and the N.Y. ExperimentStation is presently developing new varieties.Modern nectarine varieties are larger than thosedeveloped a few years ago and are more resistantto attacks of brown rot fungus. One old varietyfrom Europe is 'Rivers Orange' and, althoughit is small, the excellent dessert quality keeps iton the nursery list.

Thinning

Nectarine fruits must be thinned heavily toattain good size and flavor. The fruits must bespaced at least 8 in. apart and, as with the Peach,the thinning should be completed no later thanthe period of final fruit drop which occurs abouta month after bloom.

Harvesting

The Nectarine softens rapidly and is best ifpicked while in a firm condition. If allowed tosoften on the tree, the fruit will bruise easily andbecome mushy and difficult to handle. Whenpicked in a firm-ripe condition the fruit handleseasily and will ripen to a soft condition, withexcellent quality, within a day or two.

Pest Control

The smooth skin of the Nectarine makes itmore vulnerable to insect and disease attacksthan the Peach. It is much like the Plum in thisrespect, but with modern materials and varieties,the control of pests is much more satisfactorythan was the case previously. As with the Peachand all other stone fruits, the Nectarine issubject to borer attacks in the trunk at the soilline. See PEACH for pests and their control.

Other Gardening Articles:

| Cow Raising | Duck Raising | Geese Raising | Goat Raising | Guinea Fowl Raising | How to Build a Rooftop Garden | How to Make a Greenhouse | How to Make a Rock Garden | Hydroponic Gardening | Bees | Mushroom Growing | Ornamental Grass | Pigeon Raising | Pig Raising | Planting a Coconut | Planting a Lime Tree | Planting Aloe Seeds | Planting Apple Trees | Planting Apricot | Planting Artichokes | Planting Asparagus | Planting Avocado Trees | Planting Bamboo | Planting Banana Trees | Planting Beans | Planting Blackberries | Planting Blueberries | Planting Bonsai Trees | Planting Broccoli | Planting Brussel Sprouts | Planting Cabbage | Planting Cactus | Planting Carrots | Planting Cauliflowers | Planting Celery | Planting Cherry Trees | Planting Chestnut | Planting Chrysanthemum Seeds | Planting Clematis | Planting Corn | Planting Cranberries | Planting Cucumbers | Planting Currants | Planting Dates | Planting Eggplants | Planting Elder Berries | Planting Endives | Planting Fig Trees | Planting Ginger | Planting Ginseng • Planting Goose Berries | Planting Gourds | Planting Grapes | Planting Grass Seeds | Planting Hickory Nut Trees | Planting Hyacinth | Planting Hydrangea | Planting Jerusalem Artichokes | Planting Lemon Trees | Planting Mango Seeds | Planting Mustard | Planting Nectarine | Planting Okra | Planting Olives | Planting Onions | Planting Orange Trees | Planting Orchids | Papaya Planting | Planting Paprika | Planting Parsleys | Planting Parsnips | Planting Peach Trees | Planting Peanuts | Planting Pear Trees | Planting Peas | Planting Pineapples | Planting Pomegranate Trees | Planting Raspberries | Planting Rhubarbs | Planting Spinach | Planting Strawberries | Planting Sunflower Seeds | Planting Sweet Potatoes | Planting Tomatoes | Planting Tulips | Planting Yams | Planting Yuccas | Raising Turkey Chicks | Root Pruning | Rat Control | Raising Sheep | Tips on Growing Melons | Tree Grafting | Beekeeping | Bird Watching | Build Your Own Water Garden | Chicken Raising